Hasta La Creative!

And speaking of KFC, Yum Brands just launched a review of the fast food brand’s $220 million media business. WPP’s MEC has handled media duties for the brand for over a decade but opted not to participate in the review. According to Kantar Media, the brand spent around $55 million on measured media during the first quarter of 2016, down from $56.5 million over the same period last year. 

“The search seeks to identify and select a world-class agency capable of deploying innovative media strategies while leveraging cost efficiencies and maximizing return on investment,” the brand said in a statement. 

The review is being handled by Los Angeles consultancy Select Resources International. MEC has so yet to respond to a request to comment on the news, but the WPP shop has seen recent changes in several of its biggest accounts including AT&T, which recently consolidated its $2 billion account with Omnicom by picking BBDO for creative and the recently launched Hearts & Science for media duties.

KFC left former creative agency FCB for W+K back in February of 2015, following a closed review, with W+K subsequently launching a campaign featuring a revolving door of comedians/actors portraying Colonel Sanders, including Darrell Hammond, Norm MacDonald, Jim Gaffigan, George Hamilton and, currently, Rob Riggle. 

Just as the movie industry hits the boredom wall after New Year’s, the ad industry has really seemed to stall out since the Super Bowl. Makes sense: big budgets used up on Rob Riggle psuedo-celebrity endorsements and Stephen Colbert pistachio suits. What we have now is the calm after the storm, best exemplified by Carmichael Lynch’s new “Best Dad” spot for Subaru.

“Best Dad” is a simple 30-second clip that positions Subaru as the sweater-wearing dad of car brands, which is a fairly accurate representation, but maybe not the most tantalizing choice for an ad campaign. Take this recent video, for example, of a small Subaru sedan towing a Dodge Charger police cruiser out of the snow as one way to uniquely position the brand, especially in the winter. What Carmichael Lynch chose to produce instead is so typical that’s it’s hard to remember what happened 30 seconds ago. All car brands mention awards in their commercials. Motor Trend and J.D. Power and Associates give out awards the way Little Leagues give out trophies. Even if the message stays the same, at least try to present it in a fresh way. Just try, that’s all I ask.

Credits after the jump.

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